Say it with Flowers: Yorkshire to turn Yellow for the Tour de France

Monday 21 October 2013

Yellow flowers will be planted across the region to celebrate The Grand Depart

For over 600 years the symbol of Yorkshire has been the white rose but all that is about to change as gardeners across the county are encouraged to swap white roses for yellow in honour of the Tour de France 2014.

The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), working in conjunction with Welcome to Yorkshire, the tourism agency which led the successful bid to bring the Tour de France to Yorkshire, is producing a factsheet to help gardeners turn Yorkshire yellow next summer.

It contains over 80 different kinds of plants with yellow flowers or yellow foliage – including four varieties of yellow rose - tips on when to plant them and how to maintain them to ensure on the weekend of the 5th and 6th July, when the world’s largest annual sporting event races through the county, they will be at their blooming best.

Gary Verity, chief executive of Welcome to Yorkshire, said: “The Grand Départ provides Yorkshire with a unique opportunity to showcase what the county has to offer and highlight the pride we have in our towns and villages. We understand the economic advantages of attractive places and with the help of the RHS we want to enhance the county, creating show stopping floral displays that will wow the crowds next summer.

Ruth Evans, RHS Director of Education, Funding and Communities, said: “In honour of this glorious event we’re absolutely delighted to be helping gardeners in Yorkshire celebrate by planting yellow flowers in gardens and public spaces across the region. The colour is synonymous with the Tour de France, so what better way to celebrate the race coming to the county than by drawing on the beauty of nature and making Yorkshire glow a gorgeous yellow while the world’s spotlight is on it.”

Welcome to Yorkshire and the RHS are working with all local authorities, RHS Britain in Bloom groups, RHS Campaign for School Gardening schools and parish councils along the routes to share the dedicated factsheet and to encourage communities across Yorkshire to think yellow next summer when planting hanging baskets, bedding plants and perennials.

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Notes to editors

For more information about the RHS, please contact Ed Horne in the RHS Press Office on 020 7821 3356 or email edhorne@rhs.org.uk.

About the RHSThe Royal Horticultural Society was founded in 1804 by Sir Joseph Banks and John Wedgwood for the encouragement and improvement of the science, art and practice of horticulture. We held our first flower shows in 1820, were granted a Royal Charter in 1861 and acquired RHS Garden Wisley, the first of our gardens, in 1903. From our first meetings in a small room off London’s Piccadilly, we have grown to become the world’s largest gardening charity.

Today the RHS is committed to providing a voice for all gardeners. We are driven by a simple love of plants and a belief that gardeners make the world a better place. 200 years on we continue to safeguard and advance the science, art and practice of horticulture, creating displays that inspire people to garden. In all aspects of our work we help gardeners develop by sharing our knowledge of plants, gardens and the environment.

RHS membership is for anyone with an interest in gardening. Support the RHS and secure a healthy future for gardening. For more information call: 0845 130 4646, or visit www.rhs.org.uk/join

About the RHS

The RHS believes that gardening improves the quality of life and that everyone should have access to great garden experiences. As a charity we help to bring gardening into people's lives and support gardeners of all levels and abilities; whether they are expert horticulturists or children who are planting seeds for the very first time.

RHS membership is for anyone with an interest in gardening. Support the RHS and secure a healthy future for gardening. For more information call: 0845 130 4646, or visit www.rhs.org.uk